I told the mayor I have no confidence in her — Khusta Jack

Daily Maverick · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · May 31, 2026 · 1162 words · By Andisa Bonani; Estelle Ellis

Municipal Governance and Corruption Political Conflict and Accountability

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At the end of March, when two motions of no confidence were brought against Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Babalwa Lobishe, veteran politician and struggle activist Khusta Jack told Lobishe, during a dramatic meeting, that he would not be defending her.

Claims checked 23

Techniques found 3

Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left20%

Center60%

Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

“I wanted to say a lot at that meeting, but my colleagues in the ANC persuaded me otherwise.

Common ground

But I think she forgot,” he said over the weekend.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling, Exaggeration / Hyperbole: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Municipal Governance and Corruption story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that He is well known as an education activist, part of the South African Students Movement (SASM) and the Black Consciousness Movement in the 1970s?
How does this story connect Municipal Governance and Corruption with Political Conflict and Accountability over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-31-i-told-nelson-mandela-bay-may…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Name Calling / Labeling 70% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Exaggeration / Hyperbole 60% confidence

Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 23 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 13

check_circle Corroborated 6

info Single Source 1

help Insufficient Evidence 1

verified Verified By Reference 1

verified Verified 1

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Claim 1: “He is well known as an education activist, part of the South African Students Movement (SASM) and the Black Consciousness Movement in the 1970s.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 2: “the issue of the lease was only raised before council in October that year”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 3: “The two motions to remove Lobishe were unsuccessful”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources, including Daily Maverick and other news reports, confirm that both motions of no confidence against Babalwa Lobishe failed/were defeated.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Babalwa Lobishe is a South African politician who has been the executive mayor of Nelson Mandela bay since 2024. She represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babalwa_Lobishe

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Gqeberha (English: keb-AIR-khə, Xhosa: [ᶢǃʱɛ̀ɓéːxà]), also known by its former name Port Elizabeth and colloquially referred to as P.E., is a major seaport and the most populous city in the Eastern C…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gqeberha

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (Xhosa: uMasipala oMbaxa iNelson Mandela Bay; Afrikaans: Nelson Mandelabaai Metropolitaanse Munisipaliteit) is one of eight metropolitan municipalities in South Afr…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela_Bay_Metropolita…

+ 4 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 4: “he established Save SA to remove the former ANC president, now founder of the MK party, Jacob Zuma, from the presidency”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 5: “the cooperative governance and traditional affairs department had to send an intervention team to help the municipality”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm that the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and the Deputy Minister intervened in the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Dec 5, 2025 ... The Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) ... Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMBMM). The ...
https://www.cogta.gov.za/index.php/2025/12/05/deputy-ministe…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 7 days ago ... Nelson Mandela Bay is under Parliament's microscope after the Cogta committee called for a criminal investigation into irregular job ...
https://www.facebook.com/dailymaverick/posts/nelson-mandela-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jun 9, 2026 ... Deputy Minister Masemola to visit Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality The Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional ...
https://www.facebook.com/NationalCoGTA/posts/deputy-minister…

info

Claim 6: “Jack... holds the only seat won by his party, Abantu Integrity Movement, in the 2021 local government elections.”

SINGLE SOURCE

One web search result mentions the Abantu Integrity Movement (AIM) in the context of kingmakers in NMB, but it does not explicitly confirm they won 'only one seat' in the 2021 elections; it lists them among parties with few seats, but the specific count of one is not definitively corroborated by multiple sources here.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) was a grassroots anti-apartheid activist movement that emerged in South Africa in the mid-1960s out of the political vacuum created by the jailing and banning of…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Consciousness_Movement

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of currently active separatist movements in Africa. Separatism includes autonomism and secessionism.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_active_separatist_move…

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+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 7: “The mayoral committee was informed about the decision to lease the transformer on 2 September.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 8: “He also led the Consumer Boycott Campaign. In 1986, he was jailed for his role in the campaign and released only three years later.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 9: “the Cogta MEC (Zolile Williams) warned that the dysfunction in our municipality had gone from bad to worse and the metro faced the imminent risk of an administrative takeover by the provincial government.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 10: “Council resolved disciplinary action against Pillay and the acting executive director of electricity and energy at the time, Tholi Biyela.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 11: “The lease was signed on 11 September.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 12: “On 21 August, Coega Steels addressed a letter to then acting city manager Ted Pillay, requesting a lease of a municipal transformer.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results to confirm the specific date of August 21 or the letter addressed to Ted Pillay.

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Claim 13: “In February, the ANC Provincial Integrity Commission (PIC) cleared Lobishe of wrongdoing.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 14: “Jack resigned as the metro’s mayoral committee member for corporate services”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent web search results from May 2026 confirm that Mkhuseli 'Khusta' Jack resigned as a mayoral committee member for corporate services under Mayor Lobishe.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Build One South Africa (BOSA), officially registered as Build One South Africa With Mmusi Maimane, is a South African political party. It is led by Mmusi Maimane, the leader of the One SA Movement and…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Build_One_South_Africa

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Mkhuseli "Khusta" Jack (born 31 May 1958) is a South African politician, businessman and anti-apartheid activist. Jack currently serves as the chairperson of Build One South Africa. He previously serv…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mkhuseli_Jack

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Retief Odendaal (born 28 May 1982) is a South African politician who served as the Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay from 21 September 2022 until his removal in a motion of no confidence on 26 May 2023. Bef…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retief_Odendaal

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 15: “A criminal case was opened against Pillay by Good party councillor Lawrence Troon.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 16: “the only reason the mayor could dismiss an MMC was for underperformance”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While there are mentions of the coalition and resignations, none of the provided evidence explicitly states that the coalition agreement stipulates underperformance as the 'only' ground for dismissal of an MMC.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality council consists of one hundred and twenty members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Sixty councillors are elected by first-past-the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela_Bay_elections

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, officially the Executive Mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, is the head of the local government of South Africa's Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolit…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_of_Nelson_Mandela_Bay

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 17: “in April, while appearing before the parliamentary cooperative governance and traditional affairs committee, Lobishe conceded that the transformer lease had been irregular.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 18: “two motions of no confidence were brought against Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Babalwa Lobishe”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent web search results confirm that two motions of no confidence were submitted against Mayor Babalwa Lobishe.

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+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 19: “Coega Steels’ transformer failed in August 2025”

VERIFIED

A cross-reference from Daily Maverick explicitly states that in August 2025, Coega Steels' main transformer suffered a catastrophic failure.

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cross reference SUPPORTS — In August 2025, following a catastrophic failure of the company’s main transformer, Coega Steels faced an imminent shutdown of operations
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-20-apology-t…

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Claim 20: “a case would also be opened against Lobishe”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 21: “the metro controversially leasing a multimillion-rand municipal transformer to Coega Steels”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm the municipality leased a multimillion-rand (specifically R25m) transformer to Coega Steels.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Oct 29, 2025 ... What happens if something happens to one of the municipal transformers and a spare is needed but it's leased out? 33w · 1 like. Ken ...
https://www.facebook.com/dailymaverick/posts/nelson-mandela-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — May 31, 2026 ... ... leasing a multimillion-rand municipal transformer to Coega Steels. ... the Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) Municipality. advertisement. Don't want ...
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-31-i-told-ne…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Feb 1, 2026 ... It then approached the municipality, leading to a lease of a municipal spare transformer that had been unused since 2018. Khan said Coega Steels ...
https://www.facebook.com/IOLnews/posts/the-public-protector-…

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Claim 22: “COO Lonwabo Ngoqo should continue to act as city manager while she has been advised that no individual may act in that position for longer than the legally stipulated period of six months, which Ngoqo has already served”

CORROBORATED

Web search results indicate Lonwabo Ngoqo was appointed as acting City Manager and mention the six-month legal limit for acting positions, with reports suggesting she exceeded this period.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Sep 17, 2021 ... ... acting Chief Operating Officer Lonwabo Ngoqo to the role of acting City Manager. ... City Manager for a period of six months. The MEC for ...
https://www.facebook.com/TheNamibianNewspaper/posts/the-nati…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Dec 2, 2018 ... And CLEAN-UP your city. Why do we have to see on social media organizations like AfriForun and Hi-Tech clean the environment.
https://www.facebook.com/lowvelder.co.za/posts/the-acting-mu…

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web search NEUTRAL — Jun 12, 2026 ... Immediate release! 15 July 2024 Accelerated quality service delivery tops the list as COGTA MEC seconds acting City Manager to NMBM Nelson ...
https://www.facebook.com/ectreasury/posts/the-dora-engagemen…

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Claim 23: “In the early 1980s, he played a crucial role in founding and leading the Port Elizabeth Youth Congress, part of the United Democratic Front (UDF).”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.